Why Recycle Inkjet & Laser Cartridges?

Inkjet & Laser Cartridge Facts:

Background

• In 2005, over 700 million new cartridges will be sold in the US. (650M ink jet and 70M laser)
• In 2005, over 60 million new cartridges will be sold in Canada. (59M ink jet and 7M laser)
• In 2005, over 500 million new cartridges will be sold in Europe. (525M ink jet and 49M laser)
• In 2005, over 100M remanufactured cartridges will be sold worldwide. (62M ink jet and 42M laser)

Toxicity

• Two and a half ounces of oil are used for every ink jet cartridge produced.
• Three and a half quarts of oil are used for every laser cartridge produced.
• Each laser printer cartridge, on average, consists of approximately 2 1/2 pounds of plastic - primarily acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) - along with steel, aluminum, and rubber.
• Manufacturing each printer cartridge requires approximately three quarts of petroleum to power the manufacturing process that converts oil and natural gas to plastic.
• Each cartridge contains petroleum as "embedded" energy (i.e. the fuel value of the plastic itself). It takes the energy equivalent of approximately one-half gallon of oil to make one 2 1/2 pound cartridge.
• A new laser cartridge uses an average 3 quarts of oil to produce and adds 2.5 pounds of industrial grade plastic to the waste stream